Sports Studies

Course Work

Knox has created a program of athletics and sports studies, and built superb athletic facilities, with the knowledge that students do sports for different reasons at four basic levels: intercollegiate competition, personal fitness and health, club teams, and informal recreation (intramurals).

In the Midwest Conference, Knox competes with other small liberal arts colleges in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, with regular non-conference action against opponents from throughout the region. Knox is a member of NCAA Division III, and has sent both individual athletes and full teams to NCAA national meets. Intramurals are overseen by a faculty advisor, but are primarily organized by the Student Intramural Board, which puts together leagues based on student interest. The most popular sports feature both novice and competitive leagues.

The Program
Courses offered by the sports studies department provide the theory and skills necessary for the administration of athletic programs, athletic training, coaching of select sports, and health and fitness.

Students planning careers that combine teaching and coaching, as well as those with interests in medicine or sports medicine, can take advantage of a two-part academic program. A course in the care and prevention of athletic injuries is taught by an experienced certified athletic trainer who has worked at the Goodwill Games, Olympics and other major events. The course is combined with a term working as a student trainer on one of Knox's 21 intercollegiate teams.

Resources
Knox boasts first-rate sports facilities. The 48,000 square-foot T. Fleming Fieldhouse, built in 1992, encloses a six-lane, 200-meter track and court space. Fleming Fieldhouse has three indoor tennis courts and cages for softball, baseball and golf.

Memorial Gymnasium has two basketball courts, a newly renovated weight room, locker rooms and a swimming pool. The Auxiliary Gym is used primarily for intramurals and dance and provides a third full-size basketball court.

Outdoors, the baseball and softball teams play on two of the best fields of their types in the region, while the football team uses the Knosher Bowl -- a natural grass bowl amphitheater with a synthetic turf field and is widely revered as one of the best and most distinctive small college football stadiums. Trevor Field provides more practice space and an all-weather track. Adjacent to Trevor Field are six outdoor tennis courts. All facilities are available for formal and informal fitness activities by students, faculty and staff.